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Saskatchewan targets young workers in latest safety campaign

WorkSafe Saskatchewan has launched a contest to promote work safety messages among young people through an online youth campaign, Facebook community and new videos.

The new campaign is called Work2live. WorkSafe Saskatchewan is inviting Saskatchewan youth to watch Work2Live videos to learn about working safely, receive a free music download and enter to win weekly prizes.

“The campaign and contest encourage young workers to ask questions. Asking questions saves lives,” says Phil Germain, executive director for prevention at WCB. “We surveyed youth across Saskatchewan and asked them what advice they would give their friends about safety at work. They told us, ‘If it feels wrong, it probably is wrong.’ and ‘There’s no such thing as a stupid question.’ These are the messages we have put into our videos.”

Watching the videos will earn contest entrants a weekly free music download and an entry into a weekly draw for a $300 Walmart gift card. Young people can earn more entries by sharing with friends on Facebook. The contest runs for nine weeks.

According to WorkSafe Saskatchewan, younger workers experience higher rates of injury than other workers do. One in four workplace injuries reported to the Workers’ Compensation Board involve a worker under 25 years of age. More than 7,000 young workers are injured in Saskatchewan each year. The most common injuries are to hands, backs, legs and eyes. On average, three young people die on the job in Saskatchewan each year.

In 2010, there were no workplace youth fatalities in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan legislation requires that youth 14 and 15 years of age complete the Young Workers Readiness Certificate Course (YWRCC) before starting work. For information or to complete the YWRCC, visit [a target="_blank" href="http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/ywrcc"]www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/ywrcc.